At the specially composed assize court,
DNA experts, police officers, civil parties, families… Two weeks after the start of the trial of Mohamed Lamine Aberouz, 30 years old, the specially constituted assize court has already heard numerous witnesses. This Friday, President Christophe Petiteau wishes to get to the heart of the matter and “collect” the “observations” of the accused on the facts with which he is accused. The magistrate reminds the young man that he is suspected of having helped, on June 13, 2016, Larossi Abballa to kill a couple of police officers at their home, in Magnanville, in Yvelines, and of having carried out reconnaissance. He is also suspected of having helped Abballa to kidnap their little boy.
“I have no responsibility for Larossi’s actions,” begins Mohamed Lamine Aberouz straight away. And to insist: “Because of my proximity to him, because I was around him, I had these problems. » The magistrate wonders if he is not trying to disavow himself by placing all the “responsibility” for the attack on his childhood friend – killed by the police officers who attacked. “It is because he is no longer in this world that we are trying to make me answer for his actions, which, from my point of view, is out of the question,” retorts from his box the accused, hair tied in a ponytail, long beard, black glasses, blue and black Adidas tracksuit. “The goal is not to hold a trial but to find the perpetrators,” President Petiteau assures him. Mohamed Lamine Aberouz continues: “We know the author. And he died. »
“I had inquired about the subject”
The magistrate begins by asking the accused questions about his adherence to the theories of Daesh. Mohamed Lamine Aberouz has never hidden his rigorous practice of religion. “If you ask me if I approve of their method, the answer is no,” he swears, however. He explains that he “never found a religious argument justifying” the commission of attacks.
What about this USB key discovered during a search? Inside, investigators restored 24 files that had been erased; Daesh propaganda, such as “filmed abuses”, scenes of beheading, executions by immolation. “Why did you have this in your possession?” », asks the president. “I had inquired about the subject,” reacts Mohamed Lamine Aberouz. “I downloaded them, watched them, then deleted them. »
A “crazy story”
“He had a jihadist commitment which was never denied,” recalls the president. Before committing this double assassination, the terrorist was, in fact, convicted in September 2013 in a case involving the transport of fighters to the Afghan-Pakistani zone. “Nothing suggested” that he would commit the irreparable in this Magnanville pavilion, assures Mohamed Lamine Aberouz. According to him, Larossi Aballa had “made a promise to his family”, that of “no longer having an active jihadist commitment”. “He held his ground for three years,” he observes. Before specifying: “He never confided to me any intention of taking action. Our relationship would have ended immediately. »
The specially composed assize court is also trying to understand how the police officers’ house was spotted. At the time, Mohamed Lamine Aberouz was enrolled in a driving school in Mureaux. The instructors often took their students to carry out maneuvers in Magnanville, precisely in the street where the police couple lived. However, one of these driving teachers was convicted of drug trafficking in early 2016. Jean-Baptiste Salvaing was present during a search. “Could someone from the driving school have told you, during a session, that a police officer who participated in the arrest lived on this street? » asks President Petiteau. The accused retorts that it is a “far-fetched story” and that he has “no memory of it”. “It amazes me,” he loses his temper. I was there to get my license, that’s all. »
“The only link between DNA and the attack is Larossi”
On the night of the events, Mohamed Lamine Aberouz rushed to delete his Telegram account, this application which allows you to send encrypted messages. Why ? He said he recognized his friend in a photo. “I know that in the process, because of my links with him, the dimension of his crime, there will be repercussions and I will have problems”, he explains, adding that he had a “bad reflex out of fear by deleting this account.”
President Petiteau then wants to address “a point which turned this issue upside down”. A “pure trace” of DNA was found on the victims’ laptop. It matches the genetic profile of Mohamed Lamine Aberouz. Shortly after his identification, the accused was arrested and taken into police custody. “They wanted to put the blame on me,” he remembers. “I told them that I never participated in this attack and that if this DNA was found there, it was the perpetrator’s fault. » He assures that “the only link between DNA and the attack is Larossi”. According to him, the terrorist transferred his DNA to the crime scene. “I maintain that I was not there, I cannot say anything else. »
A fragile alibi
The problem for the accused is that no witness heard by the court was able to confirm his alibi. Mohamed Lamine Aberouz claims that he was at the mosque at the time of the events. But, apart from his family, no one remembers it. “I did what I could, I gave the names of the witnesses that I am certain to have encountered,” he breathes. Before concluding: “I can only deplore that this mosque did not consider it useful to install surveillance cameras in its premises. » The young man will have the opportunity to speak one last time, Tuesday morning, before the court retires to deliberate. The verdict is expected next Wednesday. He faces life imprisonment.